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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Updating the way governments work together
Opinion For a day last week, Canada's premiers ran the country. The most powerful governing institution wasn't Parliament or the Prime Minister's Office but the Council of the Federation. More than 20 years after it was founded in 2003 at Charlottetown, this idealistic and antagonistic avatar of federalism showed its worth. And all because they brought the prime minister to town. When the Council of the Federation (CoF, pronounced 'cough' by officials) was formed, Quebec's participation in the federation was the issue. The federalist Liberals had returned to power under Jean Charest, after 10 years of separatist Parti Québécois government and the near-death referendum result of 1995. All premiers were responsive to Quebec's imitative to create a new, stronger version of the summer Annual Premiers Conference to revitalize the role of provinces and territories in Canada and, in the process, begin the re-engagement of a distinctive Quebec with the federalist idea. Charest called it 'internal diplomacy to build alliances.' For other premiers, the imperative was 'strength in unity.' They would have a better shot at influencing the federal government if they stood and acted as one. Consensus was in, 'asterisks' denoting dissent were out. Unilateral federal cutbacks to health-care transfers and equalization payments by the Chrétien/Martin governments had angered all premiers. They pointed to a growing fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and among the provinces. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Mark Carney greets Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew as Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston looks on, during the first ministers meeting in Huntsville, Ont., on Tuesday. While CoF created a 'table of equals,' one government was primus intra pares, or first among equals — the federal government. No matter that CoF's founding agreement stated that 'Canada's two orders of government are of equal status, neither subordinate to the other,' they could not force the federal government to act that way. While premiers and prime ministers are all styled 'first ministers,' it is always the prime minister intent on preserving his prerogatives that calls and hosts first minister meetings, inviting premiers, not the other way around. This is what makes Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to show up for a CoF meeting in Huntsville, Ont., so notable. No matter that it formally reverted to a First Ministers Meeting chaired by the PM for the time he was there, it was to CoF he decamped. This was a first. To date, Canada's CoF has been more influential as a governing institution outside of Canada. Australia too is a federal state. Three years after ours came into being, the Council for the Australian Federation consisting of chief ministers of all states and territories formed. It emulates fully the purpose and operations of Canada's council, even borrowing some of the same wording in its founding agreement. The catalyst for its formation was the same too, frustration with the central Commonwealth government's approach to federalism, where it was accused of 'dictating the agenda' of what governments discussed. Sound familiar? One glaring difference stands out. Australia had a formal central/state/territorial intergovernmental mechanism for more than a decade before, called the Council of Australian Governments or COAG. Whatever benefits accrued from having all governments at the table for some matters were seen as inadequate by others. Canada's example seemed better to increasingly frustrated sub-national governments. But then COVID hit COAG. The pandemic reordered federalism mechanisms in Australia. Intergovernmental co-ordination and co-operation imperatives led to the creation of a national cabinet of chief ministers, supplanting COAG. Today, that new structure is the governing institution for federalism in Australia. This proves the flexible nature of federalism. It can change to meet the moment without changing the constitution to do so. Canada should take note. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. To his credit, Carney is investing serious time and effort in working with premiers and Indigenous leaders. He needs to if he is to succeed in rallying the country to meet this moment of economic consequence and change facing the country. Trouble is, we've all seen the movie. An initial 'era of good feelings' is followed by episodes of intergovernmental fratricide. Why? Because there is no established institution of federalism involving all constitutional orders of government in running the country. A place to conciliate. We are already seeing the limits to two orders of government — Ottawa and the provinces and territories — wanting to advance on infrastructure projects faster and more purposefully than some Indigenous governments. Demanding a seat at the table will continue until there is one. Disruptive presences outside can often become ameliorating presences inside. Canada is setting itself an historic agenda for economic and political change in response to the American tariff and trade threats. For this to succeed, we need to update how we govern ourselves as one country. The CoF founding agreement calls itself an 'enduring and evolving institution.' No question it has endured as a regular forum to demand more money and powers from the federal government. The question now is whether it can evolve into a true Council of the Federation involving representatives of all orders of government: federal, provincial, territorial and, yes, Indigenous. For the first time, Canada can imagine so. David McLaughlin is a former clerk of the executive council and cabinet secretary in the Manitoba government.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Former Quebec premier Jean Charest nominated as candidate for Stingray Group board of directors
Former Premier of Quebec Jean Charest who is a member of the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Council on Canada-U.S. Relations speaks to reporters during a cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Que., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Former Quebec premier Jean Charest has been confirmed as a candidate for a seat on the board of directors of Stingray Group. The Montreal-based company, which specializes in multi-platform music and video services, made the announcement Monday afternoon. The election to the board is expected to take place at the company's annual general meeting on Aug. 6. Board chair Mark Pathy welcomed the former premier's decision to run, saying that 'his distinguished career in public service, his extensive experience in public policy and international affairs, and his keen understanding of the Canadian context' would be 'valuable assets' for Stingray Group. According to Pathy, Charest's election 'would bring invaluable strategic perspectives as Stingray continues its global expansion and innovation in the dynamic media and technology sectors.' If elected, Charest would take over for François-Charles Sirois, co-founder of Stingray and director since 2007, who will not be standing for re-election this year. The former premier previously served briefly on the board of directors of Canadian National Railway (CN). He took office on Jan. 25, 2022, but resigned on April 1 when he announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. Charest was a Member of Parliament and federal minister for the former Progressive Conservative Party in the 1980s and 1990s before switching to the Quebec Liberal Party in 1998. He served as premier from 2003 to 2012, before returning to the practice of law. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 8, 2025.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stingray Group Board of Directors announces that Nominees for 2025 Annual General Meeting Include The Honourable Jean Charest as a New Director Candidate
MONTREAL, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Stingray Group Inc. (TSX: RAY. A; RAY.B) ('Stingray'), an industry leader in music and video content distribution, business services, and advertising solutions, today announced that The Honourable Jean Charest, P.C., former Premier of Québec and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, has been nominated for election to its Board of Directors at Stingray's upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held on August 6, 2025. Mr. Charest is one of Canada's best known political figures. "We are very pleased that Jean Charest has agreed to stand for election to our Board of Directors," said Mark Pathy, Chair of Stingray's Board. "Mr. Charest's distinguished career in public service, his extensive experience in public policy and international business, and his deep understanding of the Canadian landscape would be a key addition to our Board. Should he be elected, his strategic insights will be invaluable as Stingray continues to expand its global presence and innovate in the evolving media and technology sectors."François-Charles Sirois, a co-founder of Stingray and director who has served since 2007, has advised the Board he will not stand for re-election at the upcoming Pathy concluded, 'I wish to extend a warm thank you to François-Charles for his diligence and his significant contributions during 18 years as a director. The Board is grateful for his collaborative spirit and his strategic insights, which have helped to position Stingray for continued success. We wish him all the best going forward.'The Honourable Jean Charest, P.C. is a highly respected figure with a distinguished career in both politics and law. He served as Premier of Québec from 2003 to 2012 and previously held several federal cabinet positions, including Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in 1993. Currently, Mr. Charest is a partner and strategic advisor at the law firm Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur L.L.P. In this role, he leverages his extensive experience in Canadian and international public policy and business to assist clients with international transactions, projects, and mandates. Demonstrating his continued commitment to strategic leadership, Mr. Charest also serves on the Boards of Directors for The Rideau Hall Foundation, Ondine Biomedical, and Historica Canada, and is Chairman of the Advisory Board for Dunham details regarding all of Stingray's nominees are provided in a Management Information Circular, which can be accessed electronically by visiting or Stingray's SEDAR+ profile at StingrayStingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a global music, media, and technology company, is an industry leader in TV broadcasting, streaming, radio, business services, and advertising. Stingray provides an array of global music, digital, and advertising services to enterprise brands worldwide, including audio and video channels, 97 radio stations, subscription video-on-demand content, FAST channels, karaoke products and music apps, and in-car and on-board infotainment content. Stingray Business, a division of Stingray, provides commercial solutions in music, in-store advertising solutions, digital signage, and AI-driven consumer insights and feedback. Stingray Advertising is North America's largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio messaging to more than 30,000 major retail locations. Stingray has close to 1,000 employees worldwide and reaches 540 million consumers in 160 countries. For more information, visit more information, please contact:Mathieu PéloquinSenior Vice-President, Marketing and CommunicationsStingray(514) 664-1244, ext. 2362mpeloquin@ in to access your portfolio
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberals surging as CAQ falls to third in new poll, PQ remains in lead
New Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez, centre, reacts on stage alongside former Quebec Premiers Philippe Couillard, left, and Jean Charest, right, at the Quebec Liberal Party Leadership Conference in Quebec City, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Joel Ryan/The Canadian Press) The effect of new Liberal (PLQ) Leader Pablo Rodriguez is already being felt on the Quebec political scene. A poll conducted just after his leadership victory shows a rise in voting intentions for the provincial Liberals at the expense of François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ). According to the Pallas Data poll published on Tuesday, the Parti Québécois (PQ) is still leading in voting intentions with 31 per cent. The Liberals, now led by Rodriguez, are not far behind with 26 per cent. The previous Pallas Data poll, published in March 2025, put the Liberals at 22 per cent. The shockwaves caused by the arrival of Rodriguez are shaking the CAQ's already fragile support, which finds itself in third place, 11 points behind the Quebec Liberal Party. In March, the CAQ was at 20 per cent of voting intentions, according to the same polling firm. Legault's party is statistically tied with Éric Duhaime's Conservative Party (PCQ). Québec Solidaire is in last place with 12 per cent of voting intentions. The poll also shows that the Liberals have regained support among francophone voters, at 19 per cent. The previous survey by the same firm had them at 14 per cent. The Liberals are now in second place among francophones, but still lag behind the PQ, which holds a dominant 38 per cent. A Léger poll published in May, before the end of the Liberal race, indicated that if the PLQ chose Rodriguez as its leader, it would rise to 31 per cent of voting intentions, statistically tied with the Parti Québécois. Pablo Rodriguez, Philippe Couillard, Jean Charest New Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez, centre, reacts on stage alongside former Quebec Premiers Philippe Couillard, left, and Jean Charest, right, at the Quebec Liberal Party Leadership Conference in Quebec City, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Joel Ryan/The Canadian Press) The general election is set to take place in October 2026. The survey, commissioned by poll aggregator Qc125, was conducted from June 14 to 16, 2025, among a random sample of 1,085 Quebec respondents aged 18 and over. The margin of error for the entire sample is three per cent, 19 times out of 20. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 17, 2025.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
New Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez says he'll run for seat in 2026 election
New Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez, centre, reacts on stage alongside former Quebec premiers Philippe Couillard, left, and Jean Charest, right, at the Quebec Liberal Party leadership conference in Quebec City, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Joel Ryan) The newly elected leader of the Quebec Liberals (PLQ) says he'll wait until the 2026 provincial election to run for a seat in the National Assembly. Pablo Rodriguez says he doesn't intend to run in a byelection just to enter the legislature as quickly as possible. Instead, he says he'll travel across Quebec in the coming months to rebuild the party. However, the former federal Liberal cabinet minister still plans to appear regularly at the Quebec legislature to give press conferences. Rodriguez won the party's leadership contest on Saturday in the second round. The 57-year-old secured just over 52 per cent of the vote over second-place finisher Charles Milliard, who collected about 48 per cent. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2026.
